Mamata’s outburst against the Modi government stems from the fact that economic indicators have been on a downward trajectory and the growth targets have been revised by multiple rating agencies.

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday used India’s Chandrayaan 2 Moon mission to hit out at the Narendra Modi government. Speaking in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Mamata said the ruling NDA government was trying to use the Moon mission to divert attention from the current economic situation.

“As if the Chandrayaan launch is the first in the country… as if before they came to power, no such missions were taken up. It is an attempt to divert attention from economic disaster,” Mamata was reported as saying.

"All pillars of democracy - media, judiciary - all being run by central advisories. Names of genuine Indians have been excluded from NRC list. I echo Dr Manmohan Singh's words, concentrate more on economy than political vendetta," she added.

Tonight is a crucial night for India’s second mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan 2. Vikram lander, which separated from Chandrayaan 2 earlier this month, will attempt a soft landing on the lunr surface between 1.30 am and 2.30 am early Saturday.

Pragyan rover will then roll out of the Vikram landed a few hours later between 5.30 am and 6.30 am.

Vikram’s landing attempt is the most challenging aspect of the Chandrayaan 2 mission as the success rate of such soft landings is very low. If India succeeds today, it will become only the fourth nation after Russia, the United States and China to land on the lunar surface.

Also, the Chandrayaan 2 lander will attempt to land in Moon’s South Pole region where no probe has gone so far.

Mamata’s outburst against the Modi government stems from the fact that economic indicators have been on a downward trajectory and the growth targets have been revised by multiple rating agencies.

In fact, the GDP growth for the April-June first quarter of current financial year had slowed down to 5%, which is the lowest in the last six years. The Q1 FY19 growth has been the weakest since the first quarter of 2013.

In the fourth quarter of FY18 ending March, the Indian economy had grown at a pace of 5.8%.

Mamata Banerjee insults scientists, says ‘Chandrayaan 2 an attempt to divert attention from economic disaster'Description:Mamata’s outburst against the Modi government stems from the fact that economic indicators have been on a downward trajectory and the growth targets have been revised by multiple rating agencies.Deepak Nagpal